About Ketan Amin, DMD Expertise Graduating from Harvard School of Dental Medicine, I received a broad understanding of both medicine and dentistry. I continued my training at New York University, as a dental specialist in endodontics, which concerns root canal therapy, related surgeries, as well as diagnosing and managing various forms of pain occurring in the head and neck
Experience Dentistry; Specialist in Endodontics (Root Canal Therapy).
Organizations American Association of Endodontics
American Dental Association
American Academy of OroFacial Pain
Education/Credentials Harvard School of Dental Medicine-Doctorate in Dental Medicine (DMD)
New York University College of Dentistry-Certificate, Endodontics
You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Dentistry > Dentistry > can a diseased nerve root in a molar tooth cause ear discomfort or swoshing noices in your ear?
Dentistry - can a diseased nerve root in a molar tooth cause ear discomfort or swoshing noices in your ear?
Expert: Ketan Amin, DMD - 7/28/2006
Question About 6 months ago I developed pain in the first molar on my lower right jaw. This was a tooth that I previously had a root canal on. At the exact same time I developed a loud swoshing sound in my right ear. I went to my new family dentist and he stated that one canal of my tooth had been incompletely treated. He did another root canal and treated this particular canal. The pain stopped for about 6 months but again is starting up again in this same tooth. The swoshing sound has never stopped. I also have seen an ENT doctor and a neuroradiologist who have over the past 6 months have done a MRI of the brain and an angiogram of the brain and everything is normal there. Because of the simultaneous occurrence of both of these problems, my question is can an untreated nerve root have any connection with this continuing noise in my right ear? My dentist states that this does not happen, but I feel that they are related. Any answer you have regarding this problem would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Answer Hi Mary Ann,
Your new dentist should have referred you to an endodontist to evaluate that tooth with a prior root canal treatment. Root canal retreatments are difficult and often require the treatment by an endodontist, who is a root canal specialist.
I recommend you seek a consult with an endodontist to evaluate that tooth and the associated pain. It is possible for dental pain to refer to the ear area; however I have never read about noises associated from dental infections. It's possible that you are hearing joint noise from your TMJ. I would ask the endodontist or your general dentist to check your TMJ as well.
Best of Luck,
Ketan Amin, DMD
www.rootcanalspecialists.org
